In a 25-21 vote, the Maryland Senate has approved a same-sex marriage bill. The Civil Marriage Protection Act now heads to the House of Delegates. Last year when Attorney General Doug Gansler issued an opinion saying Maryland should recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages, Gov. Martin O’Malley agreed, saying in a statement that “having reviewed the 45-page opinion, we will be guided by the Attorney General’s thorough analysis and legal advice on this matter. I am confident that the Attorney General and his office will provide all necessary advice to State agencies on how to comply with the law, and I expect all State agencies to work with the Attorney General’s office to ensure compliance with the law.” O’Malley has said that if a bill reaches his desk, he’ll sign it.

It is a disgrace that states like California and New York don’t have marriage equality and a small southern state like Maryland will soon have legal marriage. Maryland will also recognize marriages from other states. Go Maryland!

Feb 24, 2011 at 7:12 pm · @Reply ·

Matt Ford

Way to GO, Maryland!

Feb 24, 2011 at 7:55 pm · @Reply ·

Henry

FYI – for “a small southern state”, Maryland’s residents have the highest income levels in the US, are America’s most affluent residents and among the most educated. Don’t mistake Maryland for its backward neighbor, Virginia.

Feb 24, 2011 at 7:58 pm · @Reply ·

Schteve

Southern state? Maryland’s one of the bluest ones out there. In how many other states do Democrats control over two-thirds of the legislature (hint: Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island)?

Feb 24, 2011 at 8:06 pm · @Reply ·

hephaestion

“Small southern state”? Maryland is a northern state.
It is also arguably more liberal than Massachusetts. It has a lesbian Senator, Barbara Mikulsky, too.
Maryland also has the hunkiest governor in the US.
Yay Maryland!!

Will Maryland be the 6th or 7th state with marriage equality?

Feb 24, 2011 at 8:34 pm · @Reply ·

Tony

Don’t get it twisted. Maryland is and always has been a southern state. FYI, southern doesn’t mean backward or ignorant or poor but they do have high cultural/social barriers to recognizing gay issues.

Feb 24, 2011 at 9:22 pm · @Reply ·

TheRealAdam

@Tony: WTF? California did have same-sex marriage, but then *the people* voted against it with the help of Mormons, or have you forgotten the Prop 8 scandal already? The people would more than likely vote against same-sex marriage in Maryland, too.

As far as I’m concerned, California does have marriage equality. The details are just being worked out right now.

You could argue that California was the most important state to have that equality, too, since it sets the tone for the rest of the country. That’s why the Mormon church was so heavily invested in it.

@hephaestion: Maryland is considered mid-Atlantic/southern. It is below the Mason-Dixon line. DC and Baltimore probably make it more liberal, but the culture there, overall, is southern.

Feb 24, 2011 at 9:26 pm · @Reply ·

Jeffree

I’m glad StateSen. Nancy Jacobs didn’t get to block this bill for *marriage equality* despite her fundie-Christianist sentiments. [Hey, Q’ty, you forgot about the amendments, or weren’t there any? Please tell.]

The MD House of Delegates is socially liberal and is expected to pass the bill, so poor Maggie Gallagher is gonna have to cry in her beer, and chalk this one up to a massive FAIL on her resume.

Feb 24, 2011 at 9:41 pm · @Reply ·

FlameoftheWest

I applaud the State of Maryland for this step toward equality and human liberation.

Feb 24, 2011 at 10:36 pm · @Reply ·

Will

No, I live in Maryland, and we are pretty damn Northern in regards to our culture.

@Tony: Since when is Maryland a southern state? I have a lot of relatives in Maryland and they definitely don’t consider themselves as southerners.

Maryland is a reliably liberal blue state with an educated populace.

Feb 25, 2011 at 12:57 am · @Reply ·

Michael

This is good news, yet we must argue over whether or not Maryland is in the South?… So clearly I must weight in on the matter. Maryland is technically south of the Mason Dixon, which makes it a part of the South. Obviously, the most afluent, educated and bluest part of the South, but a part nonetheless. My boyfriend is from Columbia and moved to Dallas to be with me and he hates it here as we’re obviously very different. Although I’m proud to report that Dallas has become blue (believe it or not the entire state used to be blue many moons ago) we still have a long way to go….Yay for Maryland!

@TheRealAdam: Maryland doesn’t even HAVE “major cities” outside of Baltimore.

Maryland is a mix of both, but much of Maryland’s population lives in culturally liberal or moderate areas. Vast portions of the state are kind of backwards and culturally “southern,” but they’re sparsely populated.

Feb 25, 2011 at 5:13 am · @Reply ·

Owen

Culturally liberal areas include Montgomery County, and then parts of Howard, Prince George’s, and Baltimore Counties. Even enclaves in Anne Arundel might be considered such.

This is Central Maryland, the big population center where MOST Marylanders live.

Anyway, hooray for my home state! Now we just have to stave off the attempt at repeal via the ballot box. :\

Feb 25, 2011 at 5:16 am · @Reply ·

Kevin

@Michael: Texas was blue when blue = racist. They’ll only come back when and if the Democrats go back to being the less progressive party.

Feb 25, 2011 at 6:04 am · @Reply ·

Cam

This is where Equality Maryaldn knew what it was doing…

HRC says to send them money, and THEY will take care of things. Equality Maryland asked for money to hire a very insider lobbyist. Well they knew what they were doing, their insider lobbyist had connections to get into most people in the Capital and now we’ve got a vote that went our way. Nice job EQMD and MD Senators!

OK,… I live in Maryland and never have I heard anyone say we are a northern ~or~ southern state. We are an east coast/Mid-Atlantic state. How many have studied their geography lately. We are south of the Mason-Dixon line but mostly north of DC. My partner and myself will not be getting married because we already have legal/financial paperwork in place that the voters cannot take away from us. Try to make today better than the last one…SB

As a life-long resident of Maryland and graduate of the University of Maryland, this doesn’t surprise me at all.

Maryland is not a “small southern state” however, we’re a mid-atlantic state; like Delaware and Pennsylvania. We actually have highest median income for a state in the entire country (including the highest income for a county with an African-American majority), the lowest poverty rate, are the second most densely populated (after New Jersey) and are in the top 15 for post-secondary educational attainment. In high school (which was less than a decade ago for me) there were several students who were out of the closest alongside me and we were very, very seldomly harassed. Never did it happen for me in college, not a single time. Granted, I grew up in the wealthiest and best-educated part of the state (lower Montgomery County), but it speaks VOLUMES when even surburban teenagers have become not only tolerant, but accepting and understanding of homosexuality. I am so incredibly lucky and grateful that my sexual orientation did not cause me to have a difficult adolescence like so many others.

Although it does not make such a huge difference because Maryland recognizes out-of-state marriages and same-sex marriages are legal in D.C, I’m glad that when I DO get married, my home state will get my money instead of another.

Feb 25, 2011 at 1:05 pm · @Reply ·

Scott Bonzitski

@OldLineStater: Stated very eloquently. Thanks for the insight to letting others know what it’s like to live here…SB

Feb 25, 2011 at 1:31 pm · @Reply ·

Tony

@tjr101: Maryland is as Southern as they come. My family is from Maryland and all you Northern transplants will never change its traditions.

Feb 25, 2011 at 3:35 pm · @Reply ·

Tony

@OldLineStater:
Maryland is infact a southern state, it is the first state of the south as it boarders the mason dixon line and the north begins with penn. As far as the civil war in concerned the state of maryland was put under marshall law because if maryland left the union then the capital would be surrounded by the confederates. Many marylanders feld the state and fought for the army of northern virginia under gen Robert. E Lee and most of the state had southern ties. I also beleave that the state did vote for succeeding from the union but was denied and then put under the marshall law. dont quote me on that one tho. Many people think that maryland wanted to fight for the yankees but the truth is the majority of the state wanted to succeed but were denied.

@OldLineStater:
Maryland is infact a southern state, it is the first state of the south as it boarders the mason dixon line and the north begins with penn. As far as the civil war in concerned the state of maryland was put under marshall law because if maryland left the union then the capital would be surrounded by the confederates. Many marylanders feld the state and fought for the army of northern virginia under gen Robert. E Lee and most of the state had southern ties. I also beleave that the state did vote for succeeding from the union but was denied and then put under the marshall law. dont quote me on that one tho. Many people think that maryland wanted to fight for the yankees but the truth is the majority of the state wanted to secede but were denied.

@Tony: And your point is?…Do you think that we are in for a history lesson? We live here. Do you? The people here are more civil and sometimes it is hard to figure out when people post what they are talking about AND how it is related to the original story. I back OldLineStater up 100%. Don’t go getting off the subject. Remember, this blog is “supposed” to be about same-sex marriage, NOT geography. We know WHERE we live and how our people designate us. No need to take us back to some period that no longer exists nor take us to some other place that is in the past. We are moving forward. Stay in the past if your will is to be so…SB

Read up on what the Northeastern Megalopolis is and how far it extends.

Feb 25, 2011 at 4:06 pm · @Reply ·

justiceontherocks

@Scott Bonzitski: My guess is that Tony has never been to Alabama. That’s the south.

Maryland isn’t. It has rural parts between Baltimore and the DC metro area, but it ain’t the south.

Feb 25, 2011 at 4:13 pm · @Reply ·

Scott Bonzitski [Different person #1 using similar name]

Thank you “JusticeOnTheRocks”. It is nice to know that there are SOME intelligent people posting here. Chances are, we will NOT hear from “Tony” again due to his extenduating circumstances. Some just come and go “thinking” that they are “correct” until called out otherwise…SB

Feb 25, 2011 at 5:17 pm · @Reply ·

Jeffree

Thanks, OldLineStater, Scott B, &JusticeDude: I was taught in school that Virginia was considered a Mid-Atlantic state, not a southern one. But I knew someone from that area would put “Tony” straight in case I slept thru class that week.

Arguing over the “north” and “south” divide is pointless because some states split culturally and politically.

As I said upthread, I’m very happy for Marylanders. I’m glad NOM didn’t turn the tide & hope any amendments weren’t too restrictive!

Feb 25, 2011 at 5:53 pm · @Reply ·

Scott Bonzitski [Different person #1 using similar name]

Thanks to you Jeffree. It’s nice to know intelligent souls stick together and know the TRUTH instead of spewing abnormal “off-the-hip” jargon on what they think “appears” to be fact. Thanks for the chime-in. SB

Feb 25, 2011 at 6:03 pm · @Reply ·

Bob

This string is so silly. The topic of post was gay marriage yet everyone wants to talk about my wonderful state, I’m flattered. You all should visit, but avoid the oppressively hot and humid summers. Spring and Fall are beautiful!

Maryland geographically and technically is a southern state PURELY based on where it sits geographically. Otherwise it doesn’t generally fit the southern mold as others have stated:

1) Politicaly liberal
2) Residents with the highest income of all Americans
3) The best public school systems
4) In the top 3 (flip-flops year to year with 2 others) of the most educated residents in the US

Non-factual facts:

1) Has the hottest governor
2) Has the best crab cakes on the planet
3) Most of all, lots of hot gays!

Feb 25, 2011 at 6:22 pm · @Reply ·

Scott Bonzitski [Different person #1 using similar name]

OK “Mister Bob”..IF this string is so “silly” WHY are you perusing it? [Let alone taking TIME to respond!?] Maryland is beautiful ALL year round. NOT just spring & fall.
Verbatim per “Bob” = “Maryland geographically and technically is a southern state PURELY based on where it sits geographically. Otherwise it doesn’t generally fit the southern mold as others have stated:” According to what/which reference? [not noted] “Politically” is the correct spelling, “Hottest” as in, the “hottest governor” is correct and SHOULD NOT be in the “non-factual” column. Public schools is correct and crab cakes is correct. Ditto to (see hottest above.) Thank you for the input BUT, you are way off and seen by many to be so. >skip to the next posting please<…SB

Feb 25, 2011 at 7:12 pm · @Reply ·

hephaestion

@TheRealAdam: Maryland is a northern state. The Mason-Dixon line does not define “the South.” I have lived in DC & MD for many years and the only Southern accents I have ever heard have been from tourists. It is decidely northern in culture, with the exception of some remote southernmost outposts of Maryland where almost no one lives. You can not find decent fried chicken anywhere in Maryland, aside from a few black neighborhoods, and fried okra is virtually non-existent in Maryland. How can you call it culturally southern when everyone has Yankee accents and there’s almost no decent southern food to be found anywhere?

Feb 25, 2011 at 7:19 pm · @Reply ·

hephaestion

@TheRealAdam: I guess, then, that we would call Wisconsin a southern state outside the cities. And Georgia is a northern state inside the cities. Atlanta is liberal and full of northern accents.

It is madness to call everything conservative “southern” and everything liberal “northern.” Politics does not define culture.
Cuisine & accents are better ways to determine the “culture” of a place.

Feb 25, 2011 at 7:33 pm · @Reply ·

Jeffree

Enough with geography, let’s talk POLITICS! StateSen. Nancy Jacobs is now saying that she believes that Marylanders will push to get a statewide referendum (or whatever the right word is) going to bar marriage equality.

That means NOM & other non-MD “friends” will be throwing their muscle, madness and cásh around to allow the “citizens” to vote on marriage equality.